Keene State College Tobacco/Smoking Policy
- I. Preamble
- II. Policy
- III. Covered Individuals
- IV. Responsibilities
- V. Definitions
- VI. Education and Resources
- VII. Sales and Marketing
- VIII. Enforcement & Compliance
Keene State College (KSC) is committed to providing a safe and healthy working and learning environment for the students, faculty, and staff on its campus, it hereby adopts the following tobacco/smoking policy.
I. Preamble
Keene State College joins with the American College Health Association (ACHA) in supporting the findings of the Surgeon General that tobacco use in any form, active and passive, is a significant health hazard. Keene State College further recognizes that environmental tobacco smoke has been classified as a Group A carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In light of these health risks, Keene State College hereby adopts a tobacco/smoking policy that addresses prevention, reduction and cessation actions as they pertain to tobacco/smoking issues.
Keene State College supports the health goals of Healthy People 2020 to reduce tobacco use and initiation among youth and adults, and to positively influence our community by helping people to remain or become tobacco/smoke free. Efforts to promote a tobacco/smoke-free environment have led to substantial reductions in the number of people who smoke, the amount of tobacco products consumed, and the number of people exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.
We recognize that the implementation of a tobacco/smoke free policy effects tobacco users/smokers at Keene State College. Prevention, education, and cessation initiatives are available to support the non-use of tobacco products/smoking among employees and students.
II. Policy
In order to protect the health, safety and comfort of Keene State College students, faculty and other academic appointees, staff, alumni and visitors, and consistent with state law (RSA 155:64-77), it is the policy of Keene State College to restrict smoking, vaping and all other tobacco use, inside all buildings owned and occupied or leased and occupied by KSC including the College Camp on Wilson Pond, at special events and conferences, in KSC vehicles and in other outdoor campus spaces as described in Section V:2. Smoking, vaping and the use of all tobacco products as defined in Section V:1 is prohibited within twenty five (25) feet of building entrances, outside stairways to buildings, outdoor passageways to entrances and stairways and near air intake units. Where the needs of smokers and non-smokers conflict, smoke-free air shall have priority. In addition, Keene State College supports education programs to provide tobacco cessation and prevention initiatives to our students, faculty and other academic appointees and staff. This policy supersedes all other tobacco policies at Keene State College.
III. Covered Individuals
The provisions of this policy apply 24 hours per day, seven days per week, during all days of the calendar year, to all students, faculty and other academic appointees, staff, visitors, alumni, volunteers, contractors, and vendors.
IV. Responsibilities
The President, Provost, Vice Presidents, Deans, Directors and Department Heads shall:
- Assure that this policy is communicated to everyone within their areas of responsibility; inclusive of “3rd party guest” – visitors, contractors, visiting athletic teams, vendors etc.
- Assure that rooms, facilities, under their jurisdiction are controlled as “tobacco/smoke free” areas as appropriate.
- Resolve complaints and problems arising in their areas of responsibility as defined in Section VIII.
V. Definitions
1.Tobacco/smoking products are defined as follows:
- Electronic Smoking Device means any product containing or delivering nicotine or any other substance intended for human consumption through inhalation of vapor or aerosol from the product. The term includes any such device, whether manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, e-hookah, or vape pen, or under any other product name or descriptor.
- Hookah means a water pipe and any associated products and devices which are used to produce fumes, smoke, and/or vapor from the burning of material including, but not limited to, tobacco, shisha, or other plant matter.
- Smoking means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, or pipe, or any other lighted or heated tobacco or plant product intended for inhalation, including hookahs and marijuana, whether natural or synthetic, in any manner or in any form. “Smoking” also includes the use of an electronic smoking device (vaping) which creates an aerosol or vapor, in any manner or in any form, or the use of any oral smoking device.
- Tobacco Product means any substance containing tobacco leaf, including but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, hookah tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, bidis, blunts, clove cigarettes, or any other preparation of tobacco; and any product or formulation of matter containing biologically active amounts of nicotine that is manufactured, sold, offered for sale, or otherwise distributed with the expectation that the product or matter will be introduced into the human body by inhalation; but does not include any cessation product specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in treating nicotine or tobacco dependence.
2.Keene State College Tobacco/Smoke Free Areas include:
- Inside all buildings owned and occupied or leased and occupied by KSC including the College Camp on Wilson Pond;
- Special events and conferences;
- KSC vehicles;
- Outdoor Areas:
- Entrances and outside stairways to buildings and outdoor passageways to entrances and stairways. Smoking, vaping and the use of all Tobacco products as defined in Section V:1 is prohibited within twenty five (25) feet of building entrances and/or an air intake unit.
- Courtyards or other areas where air circulation may be impeded by architectural, landscaping or other barriers.
- Outdoor entry or service lines; such as for ticket purchases, event admissions, bus stops, ATMs, etc.
- Outdoor seating areas provided by food services.
- Outdoor areas on Keene State College campus, owned and occupied or leased and occupied that are used for events (e.g., outdoor concerts, college receptions, sporting events, student events etc.) will be considered “tobacco/smoke-free zones”
VI. Education and Resources
- The Keene State College tobacco/smoking policy shall be included in the new employee and student orientation program, in the Student Right, Rules, and Responsibilities, and other campus documents where appropriate.
- A provision/link will be inserted in all vendor contracts providing vendors with the details of the Keene State College Tobacco/Smoking Policy.
- Keene State College will encourage employees and students not use tobacco and/or smoke by offering educational information/programming and providing information about tobacco/smoking cessation.
- Healthy KSC will support prevention and cessation programs for students, faculty and staff upon request and offer other prevention and education initiatives that support non-use and address the risks associated with tobacco use and smoking.
- USNH Employee Assistance Programs can assistant with identifying cessation programs for faculty and staff.
- USNH health insurance carriers may offer prevention and cessation supports.
- The New Hampshire Tobacco Helpline 1-800-QUIT-NOW is the gateway to tobacco cessation services offered to New Hampshire residents.
VII. Sales and Marketing
- Advertisement of all tobacco products, e-cigarettes and any other type of smoking devise or their use shall be prohibited in all Keene State College publications and on all KSC owned, occupied or leased properties.
- Any sale or free sampling of tobacco/smoking products on campus shall be prohibited.
VIII. Enforcement & Compliance
This policy relies on the consideration and cooperation of tobacco/smoker users and non-users. All members of the KSC community are expected to observe this policy and are encouraged to ask any individuals who are using tobacco or smoking in an unauthorized area to stop.
Faculty and staff who are not in compliance with this policy are accountable to their supervisors. Initial violation of the policy will be dealt with using education and mutual respect. Continued violations of policy will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with appropriate personnel policies and/or union contracts.
Students who are not in compliance with this policy are accountable for their behavior in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Process administered by the Office of Student Conduct.
Approved by President’s Cabinet
This policy supersedes all previous smoking/tobacco policies approved prior to November 3, 2015.
